Daylight-saving time may be here to stay

Legislators and citizens discuss merits of time change.

Legislators and citizens discuss merits of time change.

June 21, 2006|JAMES WENSITS Tribune Political Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Like it or hate it, get used to it. Daylight-saving time isn't going away anytime soon. State Rep. B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, said Tuesday the possibility of legislative action to reverse the time decision is uncertain at best. "When we get back into power," said Bauer, referring to House Democrats and his unshakable belief that his party will regain the majority in November, Republicans still will control the state Senate and "Mitch (Daniels) still will be governor." Bauer led opposition to the switch to daylight-saving time last year, but lost out to the determination of Daniels to turn Indiana to the (day)light side and the support the governor got from the Republican-controlled House and Senate. Bauer said most of the comments he has heard have been from disgruntled people who still are trying to adjust to the new time. Many complaints have been about "fixing something that's not broken," said Bauer of the time change, conceding that "some golfers like it." "People complain they can't get used to it," said Bauer, adding that particularly parents with young children don't like the extended daylight because their children stay up too late. To state Rep. Jackie Walorksi, R-Lakeville, the response to the time change is "pretty much of an age split." According to Walorski, people less than age 60 whom she has heard from are generally very positive about daylight-saving time, while those who are older are very negative. Walorski theorized that working people may like the time change better than retirees because it gives non-retirees the opportunity to spend time outdoors after work. The state representative said she speaks before "a couple of hundred people a week" and has had few comments overall. "I probably haven't had 10 comments," she said. Staff writer James Wensits: jwensits@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6353